Theology for the Long Haul

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Travel Plaza Tuesday: Come and Hear About the God Who Saves

-The conclusion to last weeks post "I Don't Want to Sell my Soul for a Prius" will appear in next weeks Travel Plaza Tuesday.-

Years ago, before our children were born, Phil and I went camping in a Michigan State park with some friends. On our last night there, I woke in the middle of the night to the sounds of something in our camp. Whatever the animal was, it rustled around the cleared area, pawed at the ground and knocked over the Tupperware container that stored some pots and cleaning supplies. Maybe it was the heightened anxiety that night brings, or the fact that I have a propensity towards drama. Earlier in the day we saw a group of park rangers leave the camp station to pursue a black bear spotted around the camp. I think this may have played a factor. Whatever the case, as I lay in my sleeping bag and listened to the heaving breath of the animal just a few feet from our tent, I was terrified. Too frightened to move or even say Phil’s name. Fear filled every pore of my body, and it felt like an ice-cold hand was squeezing my heart.

Without the slightest movement, I began to cry out to God for mercy. My mind was flooded with my own selfishness, need for control, and rebelliousness against Him. His presence flowed over me, and tears began to fall. I saw clearly how often I sinned against the God I loved. As I repented and pleaded with God, it seemed unfathomable that if He did save us and we lived through the night—if the animal did not rip through the thin nylon barrier that separated us like I feared it would—that I would ever go back to behaving that way. I would walk out of the camp changed.

The obvious fact is we did survive. The animal left the camp. Morning came and the sun appeared. We broke down our tents, packed up the jeep, and headed back to Indiana. The memory of that night faded into the past.

During a study of Psalm 66 this week, the Lord brought it back to my mind. In the psalm, the writer says, “Come and see the works of God; He is awesome in His doings towards the sons of men. He turned the sea into dry land; they went through the river on foot.” He goes on to remind the people of all the Lord had done in their midst. He recounts the works of the Lord and makes the appeal, “Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what He has done for my soul.”

To be honest, I don’t know if the Lord saved me from death that night in the woods. Maybe it was only a raccoon scuffling outside our tent. But I do know He has saved me from death through His son Jesus. And in the same way that I forgot so easily about that Michigan night, the danger is to forget that everything I have received from Christ is a mercy and grace. I begin to live as a person entitled. While I didn’t deserve to walk out of the woods that day alive, I certainly didn’t deserve for Christ to die in my place.

But He did. And now my life should cry out this verse-

“Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what He has done for my soul.”

Stace- not sure if I know that song, what is it?Jennee- going to look up psalm 13 tonight and see what it has to say to me.Also, I meant to point out in the post that if the movie Elf taught us anything, it's how vicious racoons can be. So whether it was a bear or a racoon, I think it's safe to say this was a near death experience for me.

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Author

Phil Vander Ploeg

About me

I am the lucky husband of the astoundingly beautiful and remarkably intellegent Corinne Elizabeth, and proud Father of 2 amazing sons. I am currently writing a thesis for a Master of Arts degree in Biblical Studies at Ashland Theological Seminiary.

"New Testament Commentary Survey" by D.A. Carson - an awesome resource for helping you choose the best commentaries for your research

"An Introduction to the New Testament" by Carson & Moo

"Commentary on the New Testament use of the Old Testament" by Beale & Carson

"Desiring God" by John Piper

"Classic Christianity" by Thomas C. Oden

Why We’re Not Emergent (By Two Guys Who Should Be) by Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck

"Abiding in Christ" by Murray

"Eat This Book" by Peterson

"The Last Word" by N.T. Wright

"An Introduction to the New Testament" by deSilva

Desiring God by John Piper

Download PDF FREE Here

My Favorite Commentaries

Word Biblical Commentary (Thomas Nelson Publishers)

Hermenia Commentary (Augsurg/Fortress Press)

Socio-Rhetorical Commentary (Eerdmans)

Ancient Christian Commentary (IVP Academic)

Seminary Got You Feeling Confused?

Here are 4 books that every seminary student needs in thier library.

Collected Writings on Scripture by D.A. Carson

Commentary on the New Testament use of the Old Testament by Beale and Carson

New Testament Commentary Survey by D.A. Carson

An Introduction to the New Testament by Carson and Moo

Church Got You Feeling Confused?

A couple encouraging reads !

Why we're NOT Emergent (by two guys who should be) by Kevin Deyoung & Ted Kluck

Doctrine: What Christians Should Believe by Mark Driscoll and Gary Breshears

Life Got You Feeling Confused?

Here is the daily devotional that I use and highly recommend.

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2 Timothy 3:10- 4:5

Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me!
Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.